President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated his government’s determination to address high levels of unemployed people in the country, especially the youths.
President Hichilema said to this effect, the government is going to review, re-align and add new empowerment programmes to make them more relevant, viable and sustainable.
“This process has in fact, already commenced. We urge the youth to take advantage of the empowerment programmes such as those under the dramatically enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), to better their lives,” he said during his national address on national values and principle in parliament today.
The Head of State said access to land, mining and timber licences and other contracts for goods and services will be expanded in order to create more job opportunities for the young people.
He said these will be expanded and revisited so that more people, especially the youth, can benefit from them.
Mr. Hichilema noted that young people ought to be helped to develop and should be a priority if the country is to develop.
The Head of State has however noted that people should also embrace self-employment instead of depending on hand-outs.
President Hichilema has since called on the youth countrywide to utilize the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) so that they can benefit from the national cake.
He expressed optimism that the CDF will enable some young people to become self-sustaining and will help to contribute towards reducing the number of unemployed people in the country.
The President said the government is very much determined to ensure that the levels of unemployment are reduced.
And President Hakainde Hichilema says the government has made progress in the application of national values and principles but more needs to be done as incidents of moral decay have continued to be recorded.
Mr. Hichilema observed that citizens have continued to involve themselves in vices such as alcohol abuse, early marriages, child abuse, gender based violence and corruption among others.
He said the government has since put up a number of programmes to help people desist from involving themselves in such vices.
He pointed out that one of the programmes put in place is the alcohol sensitisation programme where people are educated on the dangers of alcoholism.
The Head of State said this today when he addressed the nation on the progress made in the application of national values and principles since the United Party for National Development (UPND) government came into power in August 2021.
Mr Hichilema added that the government has also set up rehabilitation centres across the country in some health facilities to help rehabilitate the affected people.
The President has also noted with concern the continued high numbers of teenage pregnancies and early marriages, a situation he described as unacceptable.
President Hichilema stated that the law will be reinforced and the men that will be found marrying teenagers will be prosecuted.
He said parents and guardians of teenagers that have been married off will also face the law.
President Hichilema further said the government, under the Ministry of Education, has continued to use the re-entry policy and introduced the free education programme to help children attain education.
The Head of State warned that the government will therefore not allow people to disturb these programmes.
President Hichilema has since called on Zambian citizens to take issues of child abuse seriously and report the perpetrators to relevant authorities.
Mr. Hichilema has further urged civil society organisations, the church and other stakeholders to come on board and help fight the scourge.
What will swallow the youths quickly is just the formation of state farms in all the ten provinces. Anything else like youths getting contracts and other things wont have any impact on the millions of youths, things like getting contracts must just be add ons. And having state farms does not mean that all youths will be farmers, some will be accountants, auditors, economists, marketers, drivers, tractors, mechanics, farmers, purchasing,PR and many other professions, of course the majority will be field farm workers, but they could be studying at the same time
I hear there is a failure giving some speech today. I am busy relaxing and drinking in kabwe. I don’t have time or interest to watch liars
You are no longer in Opposition
It was good speech and address on ethics virtues and productivity including the common good of all Zambians It was. A call to find ground and set the work in progress The utilitarian approach is noticed good governance rather than individual self Addressing youth unemployment is rather beyond the mulungushi and could be well stratergised across all productive sectors of our economy It’s beyond these common empowerments methods but lasting solutions and the new IDC working the Zones could be ideal SECTORIAL supported with business plans stratergies and capital including beyond common talks on entrepreneur ship There are so many potential economic sites that youths can be empowered with capital to create sectors apart from those narrow sectors at mulungushi in focus
It’s extend to all other youths apart from politics if the entrepreneurship drive will be a succession
I have NOT listened to the whole speech by HH, BUT if this article covers the whole content as relayed by HH, then I will say this is the WEAKEST speech that HH has given in his Presidency. Will comment later.
Ala kabili efyo chaba futi?
It was presented and touched on the ethical virtues and productivity the case for utilitarianism was evidently clear in the speach including the need for good governance and societies It was generally na call to find common ground for public service delivery including developments Element s of communal rather individual was emphasised in all sectors The case for unemployment amongst the youths was made for proper empowerments mapping and SECTORIAL stratergies. It should beyond the common current stratergies in those gatherings
You should be concerned as you promised them jobs and they are now waiting.
@5 General Kanene
if that is really coming from you the Zambia is in trouble….i mean if Kanene starts doubting HH then its game over,,,,HH is toast
Why is he covering his mouth? Corona Virus is a hoax. Can’t he see that since Russia invaded Ukraine, the West have stopped talking about Covid19. It’s just disappeared.
Many of the Europen countries have seen a reduction in covid19 cases, and many countries are fading off the covid19 restrictions, as they are now qualifying covid as an epidemic (not pandemic). Generally, people are now tired of Covid19 and want to live normal lives. And the Ukraine war is uncalled for catastrophic incident, it’s NOT wise to underestimate it. It’s possible you think because the war is Europe, you guys are safe. No, you are not safe. I am sure you recall the Chernobyl disaster. This time, the largest Nuclear facility was almost on fire, after it was shelled by Russians, and that is no joke, guys. Ati “Corona Virus is a hoax”, you must be the lucky one who did not lose your beloved one.
@Saulosi,
Good day, man! I am not an extremist.
They have taken care of their businesses, the concerns with high number of unemployment for the youth remains a voting winning machine strategy